Magnetic Force Enhanced Drain Plug

ABSTRACT

A drain plug comprising of a plurality of polarity magnets arranged in an alternating fashion. The plurality of polarity magnets are arranged in line with the drain plug. A magnet cover envelops the plurality of polarity magnets for easy cleaning. The unique alternating arrangements of the plurality of polarity magnets help increase the magnetic gradient for stronger attraction forces for metal wear particles. The use of a plurality of polarity magnets also increase the surface area where the metal particles can be held.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patentapplication Ser. No. 61/304,995 filed on Feb. 16, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a drain plug which employs speciallyarranged permanent magnets as to attract and hold ferrous metalparticles effectively. The objective of the present invention is toremove ferrous metal particles from a lubricating or hydraulics system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In lubricating or hydraulic systems, any moving parts generate abrasiveferrous metal particles which are harmful to the moving parts. Theseferrous particles range in size from sub-micron and larger. It isimportant to prevent these wear particles from circulating through thelubricating or hydraulic systems.

One method that has been practiced for this purpose is magnetic drainplug. Typically magnetic drain plug uses a simple cylindrical rodpermanent magnet of which magnetization direction is along thecylindrical axis of the rod. In this simple design, ferrous wearparticles are captured only at the tip of cylinder rod, which is a smallarea. Furthermore, magnetic field force from the tip of the cylindermagnet rod is not strong enough to capture and hold sub-micron sizedferrous wear particles. This simple design offers simple fabrication andcompact shape, but no large capturing area and no strong magnetic forceenough to produce strong pulling power enough to hold captured particlesof sub-micron size. Also, this elementary design does not hold such tinyparticles on magnet surface under violently turbulent oil movements.Therefore, it is necessary to design a new magnetic drain plug, whichoffers bigger surface capturing area and strong magnetic force. Thepresented invention overcomes such problems by providing a largersurface area and strong magnetic force for capturing ferrous metalparticles. A secondary application for present invention achievesbonding iron particulates to a chemical which in turn bonds to apollutant or an unwanted substance within a mixture then the magneticfield of the present invention will pull/filter out the un-wantedmaterial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention where there are two polarity magnets for the plurality ofpolarity magnets.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention where the magnet cover is removed from the plurality ofpolarity magnets. The arrows shown on the plurality of polarity magnetsrepresent the direction of the magnets polarity. The unique arrangementallows the present invention to have an increased magnetic fieldgradient for stronger magnetic attraction force for ferrous metal wearparticles.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention where the magnet cover is removed from the plurality ofpolarity magnets. The arrows shown on the plurality of polarity magnetsrepresent the direction of the magnets polarity. In this embodiment ofthe present invention the direction of the magnet's polarity is parallelto the length of each magnet. The magnets are arranged with alternatingpolarities to have an increased magnetic field gradient for strongermagnetic attraction force for ferrous metal wear particles.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention where there are four polarity magnets for the plurality ofpolarity magnets. The magnet cover is shown removed from the pluralityof polarity magnets. The arrows shown on the plurality of polaritymagnets represent the direction of the magnets polarity. The uniquearrangement allows the present invention to have an increased magneticfield gradient for stronger magnetic attraction force for ferrous metalwear particles.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present invention.

A larger surface area can capture more number of wear particles and astronger magnetic force produces bigger pulling and holding power forferrous wear particles. A stronger magnetic force is required to attractsmaller mass or volume of ferrous wear particles. The present inventionfollows such parameters for a design that offers much larger magneticsurface area on which ferrous particles can be attached and also offersmuch stronger pulling and holding magnetic power enough to attractparticles of sub-micron size and to hold such tiny particles under fastmoving oil around magnet surfaces of magnetic drain plug 1. Anotherapplication for the present invention is to achieve bonding of ironparticulates to a chemical which in turn bonds to a pollutant or anunwanted substance within a mixture. The magnetic field emitted by thepresent invention will pull and filter out the unwanted materials. Thepresent invention comprises of a drain plug 1, a plurality of polaritymagnets 2, and a magnet cover 3. The drain plug 1 in the presentinvention is specially shaped to accommodate the plurality of polaritymagnets 2 to create a strong magnetic gradient for a strong magneticfield to attract and hold ferromagnetic particles. The plurality ofpolarity magnets 2 are arranged and held in a manner that a largermagnetic field is created. The magnet cover 3 also serves to hold theplurality of polarity magnets 2 together, but also serves as a coveringmechanism that provides easy cleaning of the drain plug 1.

In reference to FIG. 2, the drain plug 1 comprises of a threaded portion11 and a bolt head 12. The threaded portion 11 of the drain plug 1 has atip end and also comprises of a magnet port 111. The magnet port 111 isa cavity that is positioned on the tip end. The cavity of the magnetport 111 traverses through the threaded portion 11. The bolt head 12 isconnected to the threaded portion 11 opposite of the magnet port 111.The plurality of polarity magnets 2 are inserted and secured inside themagnet port 111. The plurality of polarity magnets 2 are arranged inalternating relationship with the polarities of each magnet positionedin an alternating fashion. The magnet port 111 is shaped to fit thecross section of the bundle of the plurality of polarity magnets 2. Thealternating positioned of each of the plurality of polarity magnets 2creates a stronger magnetic field gradient for a stronger attractingforce for the ferromagnetic metal particles inside the oil of alubricating or hydraulics system.

In reference to FIG. 1-5, to additionally secure the plurality ofpolarity magnets 2, the present invention makes use of the magnet cover3. With the plurality of polarity magnets 2 being elongated magnets, themagnet cover 3 having is a sheath like component that conforms to theshape of the plurality of polarity magnets 2. The magnet cover 3 has abase end. The magnet cover 3 envelops the plurality of magnets tocompletely cover and hold the magnets together. In addition to itsability to structurally stabilize of the present invention, the magnetcover 3 also serves as a convenient component that allows for easycleaning. The magnet cover 3 can be made of a ferromagnetic material ora large portion of non-magnetic material on the outer surface with asmall portion of ferromagnetic material on the inner surface. Althoughthe magnet cover 3 envelops the plurality of polarity magnets 2, theplurality of polarity magnets 2 are still able to attract metalparticles from the lubrication and hydraulics system. The metalparticles are held directly onto the magnet cover 3. The magnet cover 3serves as a barrier for the metal particles from directly contacting theplurality of polarity magnets 2. Being a removable cover, the user ofthe present invention is able to slide the magnet cover 3 and wipe themagnet cover 3 clean of the metal particles. To additionally ensure thatthe metal particles do not directly contact the plurality of polaritymagnets 2, the magnet cover 3 further comprises of a base brim 31. Thebase brim 31 is peripherally positioned on the base end of the magnetcover 3. The base brim 31 ensures that metal particles only contact themagnet cover 3. When the magnet cover 3 is being slid off for cleaning,the base brim 31 ensures that the metal particles do not slide off ontothe plurality of polarity magnets 2. The brim is no larger than thediameter of the drain plug 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are twomagnets for the plurality of polarity magnets 2. The two magnets areadjacently placed to each other with alternating polarities, as shown inFIG. 3-4. By placing the paired magnets with opposite magneticpolarities, the unit produces a larger magnetic gradient leading to astronger magnetic force for attracting and holding the ferrous metalwear particles.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality ofpolarity magnets 2 can include more magnets to increase the surface areafor capturing more ferrous metal wear particles. The additional numberof magnets can contribute in creating a stronger magnetic attractingforce for the ferrous metal wear particles. In this embodiment of thepresent invention, two magnet pairs are placed adjacent to each other,as shown in FIG. 5.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A magnetic force enhanced drain plug comprises, a drain plug; a plurality of polarity magnets; a magnet cover; the drain plug comprises of a threaded portion and a bolt head; and the magnet cover comprises of a base brim.
 2. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 1 comprises, the threaded portion having a tip end comprises of a magnet port; and the magnet port being a cavity positioned on the tip end and traversing through the threaded portion.
 3. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 2 comprises, the bolt head being connected to the threaded portion opposite to the magnet port.
 4. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 2 comprises, the plurality of polarity magnets being inserted and secured inside the magnet port; and the plurality of polarity magnets being arranged in alternating relationship with the polarities of each magnet positioned in alternating fashion.
 5. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 4 comprises, wherein the alternating positioning of each of the plurality of polarity magnets creates a stronger magnetic field gradient.
 6. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 1 comprises, the magnet cover having a base end; the magnet cover being a sheath shaped to conform to the plurality of polarity magnets; and the base brim being peripherally positioned on the base end.
 7. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 6 comprises, the magnet cover being enveloped about the plurality of magnets.
 8. A magnetic force enhanced drain plug comprises, a drain plug; a plurality of polarity magnets; a magnet cover; the drain plug comprises of a threaded portion and a bolt head; the magnet cover comprises of a base brim; the threaded portion having a tip end comprises of a magnet port; the magnet port being a cavity positioned on the tip end and traversing through the threaded portion; the magnet cover having a base end; the magnet cover being a sheath shaped to conform to the plurality of polarity magnets; and the base brim being peripherally positioned on the base end.
 9. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 8 comprises, the bolt head being connected to the threaded portion opposite to the magnet port.
 10. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 8 comprises, the plurality of polarity magnets being inserted and secured inside the magnet port; and the plurality of polarity magnets being arranged in alternating relationship with the polarities of each magnet positioned in alternating fashion.
 11. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 10 comprises, wherein the alternating positioning of each of the plurality of polarity magnets creates a stronger magnetic field gradient.
 12. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 8 comprises, the magnet cover being enveloped about the plurality of magnets.
 13. A magnetic force enhanced drain plug comprises, a drain plug; a plurality of polarity magnets; a magnet cover; the drain plug comprises of a threaded portion and a bolt head; the magnet cover comprises of a base brim; the threaded portion having a tip end comprises of a magnet port; the magnet port being a cavity positioned on the tip end and traversing through the threaded portion; the magnet cover having a base end; the magnet cover being a sheath shaped to conform to the plurality of polarity magnets; the base brim being peripherally positioned on the base end; the plurality of polarity magnets being inserted and secured inside the magnet port; and the plurality of polarity magnets being arranged in alternating relationship with the polarities of each magnet positioned in alternating fashion.
 14. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 13 comprises, the bolt head being connected to the threaded portion opposite to the magnet port.
 15. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 13 comprises, wherein the alternating positioning of each of the plurality of polarity magnets creates a stronger magnetic field gradient.
 16. The magnetic force enhanced drain plug as claimed in claim 13 comprises, the magnet cover being enveloped about the plurality of magnets. 